Epcot is Walt Disney World’s foodie theme park. With more than 50 different Epcot dining outlets to choose from, from snack carts and drink kiosks to quick-service restaurants and sit-down eateries (and don’t forget the many festival food booths throughout the year), there’s no shortage of options.
But, what are the best places to eat in Epcot for a leisurely, sit-down meal? Whether you want to linger over an authentic, expertly prepared dish or introduce your clan of picky eaters to some new global tastes, read on for our take on the best table-service restaurants in Epcot.
Please note that due to the pandemic, Restaurant Marrakesh is temporarily unavailable.
All About Sit-Down Dining at Epcot
Mealtime is one of our favorite parts of any trip to Walt Disney World, but especially at Epcot. In fact, food is such a major component at Epcot that it’s basically an attraction unto itself. Best of all, with so many different restaurants available, there’s something to satisfy diners of all sorts, whether open-minded folks with a taste for adventure or finicky kids just looking for a slice of pizza.
While you could certainly eat your way through several snack stands, quick-service cafes or festival food booths – and, not to mention, do some drinking around the world (showcase) – we like to slow things down with a relaxing meal at one of the many table-service restaurants at Epcot.
Why Enjoy an Epcot Table-Service Dinner?
Epcot, especially World Showcase, is all about being transported to a different place and time without even needing to grab your passport. And while you can certainly get a taste, both literally and figuratively, of the many different countries that make up World Showcase by dining quick service, the best way to dig into a culture a bit more is at an Epcot table-service restaurant.
For most sit-down restaurants at World Showcase, not only are they designed to evoke an actual eatery you might find in that country, but their menus are also filled with delicious, authentic cuisine – or, at the very least, approachable dishes with a dash of global flair.
As for Epcot restaurants outside World Showcase, these sit-down eateries also offer a similarly memorable dining experience, whether watching the fish swim by at Coral Reef Restaurant or gazing into the computer-generated depths of outer space at Space 220. All in all, no matter where you choose to eat, you’re sure to leave your meal full, happy and refreshed for the rest of the day’s adventures.
Walk-Up List or Advance Dining Reservations? – Planning Your Meal at Epcot
No matter where you are at Walt Disney World, one of the biggest perks of eating at quick-service dining outlets is the spontaneity it allows you. Sadly, that isn’t the case for most Epcot sit-down restaurants, as many of the park’s most popular spots require you to plan far in advance to even snag a reservation.
Fortunately, thanks to walk-up lists, guests can enjoy a host of Epcot table-service restaurants without a reservation and, more importantly, very little wait. Although walk-up lists aren’t available at all sit-down restaurants, they are offered at many of them. What’s more, as long as you choose to dine during less popular times, such as lunch or an early dinner, you shouldn’t have to wait too much longer than 10 minutes or so until a table becomes free. Table-service Epcot restaurants with walk-up lists include:
- Biergarten Restaurant
- Coral Reef Restaurant
- Garden Grill Restaurant
- La Hacienda de San Angel
- Rose & Crown Dining Room
- Spice Road Table
Best Epcot Restaurants for a Sit-Down Meal
Along with the attractions, food is the star of the show at Epcot. If you’re looking for somewhere to soak up some atmosphere, rest your feet for a while and take your tastebuds on an international (or out-of-this-world) vacation, these top table-service Epcot restaurants are well worth a try.
Best for Family-Friendly Food in a Fun Atmosphere
Biergarten Restaurant | Germany Pavilion in World Showcase
Every day is Oktoberfest at Biergarten Restaurant. At this European-inspired buffet eatery, step into a moonlit Bavarian square complete with quaint, half-timber buildings, streetlights and a live polka band. Your little ones can even blow off some steam on the dance floor. Here, the buffet overflows with plenty of hearty German fare, from traditional sausages and schnitzel to Black Forest cake and fresh, hand-pulled apple strudel.
San Angel Inn Restaurante | Mexico Pavilion in World Showcase
For more pseudo al fresco dining, make your way to San Angel Inn Restaurante. Tucked inside the Mexico Pavilion’s Mesoamerican pyramid, this atmospheric eatery gazes out over ancient Mayan ruins and a glowing volcano. As you watch the boats from Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros float past, tuck into flavor-filled Mexican favorites like enchiladas, tacos and carne asada. And, of course, don’t forget to sip on a margarita or two.
Teppan Edo | Japan Pavilion in World Showcase
It may not be the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness Campground, but Teppan Edo certainly offers dinner and a show. Be dazzled during dinner while watching the restaurant’s teppanyaki chefs grill up your choice of Japanese classics tableside. Between the onion ring volcano and a saucy Hidden Mickey, this Epcot restaurant is a ton of fun. Try the sushi rolls or your choice of protein served with rice, udon noodles, veggies and a fresh, garden salad.
Best for Disney Character Dining
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall | Norway Pavilion in World Showcase
While Magic Kingdom has Cinderella’s Royal Table, Epcot has Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. With cathedral ceilings and an opulent design, this regal restaurant takes its style cues from a stately Scandinavian castle. And don’t forget about the guests of honor – a slew of Disney Princesses will come to greet you throughout your meal. Part buffet (well, technically, it’s a smorgasbord) and part prix fixe menu, guests dine on everything from Norwegian meats and cheeses to meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce.
Garden Grill Restaurant | The Land Pavilion in World Nature
Over at The Land, you don’t just get to see a bounty of produce growing on Living With the Land – you get to eat it, too. Thanks to the restaurant’s revolving dining room, the view is always changing at Garden Grill Restaurant. Not to mention, you’re also greeted throughout your meal by Chip ‘n’ Dale, Mickey Mouse and Pluto. In between character visits, dine on comfort-food favorites like BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes and berry shortcake made from ingredients grown right there at the pavilion.
Best for Delicious Dining with Incredible Views
Coral Reef Restaurant | The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion in World Nature
You can’t beat the views from your table at Coral Reef Restaurant. Savor a selection of seafood favorites while you gaze out at thousands of underwater creatures as they go about their day in the aquarium that surrounds the eatery. Is it a little strange to dine on entrées like island-inspired Mahi Mahi, Asian-style salmon and shrimp & grits while watching their cousins swim by? Possibly slightly.
Rose & Crown Dining Room | United Kingdom Pavilion in World Showcase
Nestled along World Showcase Lagoon, the Rose & Crown Dining Room is a welcoming spot for a bite to eat. Warmly decorated with dark woods and traditional furnishings, it feels like you’ve stepped off Portobello Road and into a lively British pub. When you aren’t sipping on a pint or catching the fireworks outside, tuck into such English classics as fish & chips, bangers & mash or shepherd’s pie.
Space 220 Restaurant | Mission: SPACE Pavilion in World Discovery
For a truly out-of-this-world dining experience unlike anything else at Disney World, don’t miss out on Epcot’s Space 220 Restaurant. Using a CGI-powered “elevator ride,” this otherworldly culinary adventure blasts diners 220 miles above Earth (virtually, of course), allowing guests to eat among the stars. The menu here is prix fixe and stars elevated dishes like Blue Moon Cauliflower and Galactic Salmon that are as pleasing to the eye as the galactic views.
Spice Road Table | Morocco Pavilion in World Showcase
Hoping to end your meal with a bang (and we don’t just mean dessert)? Then catch the Epcot fireworks over dinner at Spice Road Table. Featuring Mediterranean-style tapas like House-made Hummus Fries and Grilled Lamb Kefta, a picturesque lagoon-front location and both indoor and outdoor seating, it’s an unforgettable place to enjoy Harmonious. Dining at Spice Road Table is available by walk-in only, so be sure to plan accordingly if you want to pair your dinner with a side of pyrotechnics.
Best for a Romantic Dinner for Two
La Hacienda de San Angel | Mexico Pavilion in World Showcase
With its moody lighting, authentic Mexican cuisine and massive windows overlooking World Showcase Lagoon, La Hacienda de San Angel is a positively idyllic spot for a Disney date night. You’ll even find a few dishes that are made for sharing, including a decadently dreamy Chocolate “Fiesta” Pyramid stuffed with toffee and a Mexican-spiced chocolate mousse atop a slice of tres leches cake.
Le Cellier Steakhouse | Canada Pavilion in World Showcase
When it comes to beloved Epcot restaurants, none are more quintessential – or cozy – than Canada’s Le Cellier Steakhouse. The setting is intimate, the dining room is relatively quiet, and the restaurant’s signature cheddar cheese soup and filet mignon are to die for. However, given the restaurant’s popularity, reservations can be difficult to come by. Fortunately, walk-ins are also accepted.
Monsieur Paul | France Pavilion in World Showcase
France is known the world over for its incredible cuisine (it’s all the butter!). So, it’s no surprise that Epcot’s France Pavilion is home to some must-try restaurants. At the top of that list is Monsieur Paul, which is inspired by famed French chef, Chef Paul Bocuse. From the elegant dining room to the stunning views of World Showcase Lagoon to the strict dress code (fancy!), it’s perfect for a romantic evening. For this prix fixe meal, savor updated twists on classic French dishes.
Tutto Italia Ristorante | Italy Pavilion in World Showcase
Nothing says date night like Italian cuisine. Blame it on that famous(ly adorable) spaghetti kiss from Lady and the Tramp. While the menu isn’t exactly earth-shattering, the restaurant’s charming murals of ancient Rome and lineup of palate-pleasing favorites such as Lasagne alla Bolognese and Chicken Parmigiana make for an enjoyable escape. You can even order a plate of spaghetti to recreate your own pasta-fueled kiss.
Best for Authentic Cuisine & an Immersive Dining Experience
Restaurant Marrakesh | Morocco Pavilion in World Showcase
Dine in Moroccan splendor at Restaurant Marrakesh. Tucked at the back of the pavilion amongst its labyrinthine alleyways, this immersive restaurant whisks diners away to a whole new world thanks to its truly stunning dining room. Between the hypnotic hips of the belly dancer and the fragrant tagines and kebabs, you can almost smell the spices wafting in from the medina.
Takumi-Tei | Japan Pavilion in World Showcase
In Japan, food is art and chefs are sculptors. At Takumi-Tei, Japanese for “house of the artisan,” diners discover this delicious artform during a kaiseki-style meal, or Japanese haute cuisine. Guests can choose from either a la carte dishes or a leisurely three-hour meal which includes a traditional tea ceremony. This is Epcot dining at its most elegant.
Tokyo Dining | Japan Pavilion in World Showcase
Styled like restaurants in some of Japan’s most cosmopolitan cities, Tokyo Dining is a quintessential Japanese culinary experience. Along with the eatery’s chic, modern setting, diners also enjoy Japanese favorites like expertly prepared sushi, noodle dishes and rice bowls, as well as the country’s famed service. To top it all off, if you time your meal right, you can even watch the evening fireworks burst over World Showcase Lagoon out of the restaurant’s huge front window.
Best for Approachable Eats with an International Twist
Chefs de France | France Pavilion in World Showcase
From the moment you set foot in the bright and airy dining room of Chefs de France, you feel as if you’ve suddenly landed in a quaint café in the City of Lights. Whether sipping on a gloriously cheesy cup of French onion soup or tucking into a classic Boeuf Bourguignon, there’s a lot to like at this family-friendly brasserie. The seasonal menu featuring fresh ingredients is sure to keep you coming back for more.
La Crêperie de Paris | France Pavilion in World Showcase
Delicately thin and stuffed with an array of tasty fillings, crêpes and galettes are staples of French cuisine. In fact, there’s an entire holiday – La Chandeleur on February 2 – dedicated to the pancake-like food. La Crêperie de Paris cooks up both sweet and savory versions filled with everything from ham, egg and Swiss cheese to Nutella and whipped cream. Wash it all down with some French hard cider.
Nine Dragons Restaurant | China Pavilion in World Showcase
Now, while you’ll find several restaurants dishing up pretty authentic eats at World Showcase, sadly, Nine Dragons Restaurant isn’t one of them. That being said, for folks who prefer Americanized takes on Chinese cuisine such as Honey Sesame Chicken and Happy Family stir-fries, Nine Dragons will hit the spot. Having said that, the restaurant is beautiful, with colorful lanterns and lavish woodwork.
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria | Italy Pavilion in World Showcase
What could be more approachable than pizza? Perfect for picky eaters of all ages, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria whips up the best pizza at Walt Disney World. Pies are baked to perfection in one of the restaurant’s three wood-burning ovens, each representing one of Italy’s active volcanoes. Not in the mood for a slice? Pasta like tortellini and spaghetti with meatballs are also available.
That brings our guide to the best table-service Epcot restaurants to a close. What is your favorite sit-down spot at this foodie theme park? Let us know in the comments! Then, find out how to stretch your food budget further with our Disney World discount tickets.
